Apparatus for producing sheet glass



Aug. 15, 1933. J, REECE 1,922,637

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET GLASS Filed NOV. 4, 1927 wi l gwuantot J'ose oh fl. Reece Patented Aug. 15, 1933 i UNITED STATES 'APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING smnrr GLASS Joseph A. Reece, Toledo, Ohio, assignor I to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a Corporation of Ohio Application November 4, 1927. Serial No. 230,935 9 Claims. (01. 49 -ss) This invention relates broadly to the glass art and more particularly to the forming of a continuous or substantially continuous sheet.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for facilitating the continuous feeding of a body or charge of molten glass to sheet rolling means.

Another object of the invention is to provide in glass rolling apparatus including a receptacle 10 containing a molten bath,'a pair of rolls arranged above said bath in a manner-to create a sheet forming pass, and means to assist in supplying the requisite amount of molten glass to said sheet forming pass. l

Another object is to provide a machine of this nature including a pair of sheet forming rolls arranged above a mass of molten glass in a manner to create a sheet forming pass, and rotatable means cooperating with said forming rolls for building upa relatively large body or supply of glass which is then passed between the forming rolls and reduced to a fiat sheet of relatively predetermined thickness.

A further object is to provide a machine of this nature wherein a pair of sheet forming rolls is arranged above a molten source in a manner to create a sheet forming pass, a rotatable feed roll being adapted to cooperate with one of said forming rolls to feed upwardly a relatively heavy I body of glass which is then passed between the forming rolls and reduced thereby to a sheet of substantially predetermined thickness, the sheet 'forming rolls and feeding roll being arranged relative to one another to form a pocket for'receiving the body of glass. V

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in con nection with the accompanying drawing.

40 In the drawing forming a part of this application and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through sheet rolling apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough.

In the drawing, there is provided a relatively shallow working receptacle or draw pot 5 mounted upon stools 6 arranged in a suitable heating chamber 7, said draw pot being adapted to contain a mass of molten glass 8 preferably sup,- plied thereto continuously from a suitable furnace 9 wherein the glass is melted and conditioned.

' Arranged above the mass of molten glass 8 in draw pot 5 is a pair of superimposed sheet forming rolls 10 and 11 positioned relative to one another to' create a sheet forming pass therebetween, the size of this pass controlling the thickness of sheet produced. The forming rolls 10 and G9 11 are preferably provided with an internal bore to permit the circulation of a suitable temperature control medium therethrough and the outer surfaces thereof are ordinarily smooth and polished. The rolls may be constructed of any desired metal such as cast-iron, nichrorne, IvIonel, stellite, etc., with the opposite ends thereof sup-' ported in journals 30.

As brought out above, the aim of the present invention is the provision of means toassist in supplying the requisite amount of molten glass to the sheet forming pass. To actually roll the glass to a sheet of predetermined thickness, it is necessary that a sufficient amount of glass be continuously supplied to the sheet forming pass to permit such rolling.

This is accomplished in the present invention by providing a feed roll 12 arranged horizontally with respect to the forming rolls l0 and 11 but being of a somewhat greater diameter than the same. The feed roll 12 is spaced from the lower forming roll 10 a sufficient distance so that when the rolls 10 and 12 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows, a relatively large or heavy body of molten glass 13 will be fed upwardly therebetween. Thus, the rolls 10 and 12 coact with one another in building up a relatively large supply of molten glass 14 which is received and contained within a pocket formed by the arrangement of the rolls 10, 11 and 12.

The feed roll may also be provided with an internal bore to permit the circulation of a temperature control medium therethrough. The opposite ends of this roll are shown as being journaled in bearings 15 and the said roll may be positively driven by means of a sprocket chain or the like 16 trained about a sprocket carried thereby. The feed roll carries at either or both ends thereof a gear 1'7 meshing with an idler gear 18 carried by bracket 19, said gear 18 meshing in turn with a gear 20 carried by roll 11 which is in mesh with gear 21 carried by roll 10, so that upon rotation of the feed roll 12, rotary movement will also be imparted to the rolls l0 and 11.

In operation, molten glass is first established within the furnace 9 and then supplied therefrom to the working receptacle 5. The sheet forming rolls are mounted above the molten glass and adjusted for the thickness of sheet desired after which the feed roll 12 is then placed in position and the glass started upwardly by means of a bait or the like.- Due to the positive rotation of the feed roll 12 and forming roll 10, a relatively heavy body of glass 13 will be moved upwardly into the pocket created by the several rolls to form the supply of glass 14 which is then passed between the forming rolls 1'0 and 11 and reduced to a sheet 22 of substantially predetermined thickness.

This sheet may then be carried in a horizontal plane on the rolls or other suitable conveying means 23 through an annealing leer. A burner 24 may also be provided for maintaining the supply of glass 14 in a plastic workable condition. From the foregoing, it will be evident that the requisite amount of molten glass will be continuously supplied to the sheet forming pass in order to, permit actual rolling thereof to a fiat sheet of substantially predetermined thickness.

To protect the mass of molten glass 8, sheet 22 and; the forming rolls and feed roll, lip tiles 25 and 26 may be provided as well as the cooler shields-.2 7 and 28.v

It is to be understood that the form of; the

.inventionaherewith shown and described is to be forming rolls disposed thereabove and arranged to create a sheet forming pass, and a feed roll coacting with one of said storming rolls for feeding molten glass upwardly from said mass to sai sheet forming pass;

2. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass. of moltenwglass, a pair of sheet forming rolls disposed thereabove andv arranged to create a. sheet forming pass, and a feedroll cooperating withv one of; said forming rolls for feeding -a, relatively large-body of molten glass-upwardly to said; sheet forming pass, said forming rolls and feed roll being arranged. relatiye to one another to form apocket for receiving the body of glass fed upwardly by said feed; roll; and forming roll.

, 3. In: sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a, massof. molten glass, a, pair of sheet forming rollscdisposed thereabove and arranged workable condition.

4. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, a pair of superimposed sheet forming rolls disposed thereabove and arranged to create a sheet forming pass, and a feed roll arranged horizontally with respect to. the lower forming roll and cooperating therewith to feed a relatively heavy body of molten glass from said'mass upwardly to the sheet forming pass.

.5. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, a pair of superimposed sheet forming rolls disposed thereabove and arranged to create a sheet forming pass, a 'feed roll arranged horizontally with respect to the lower forming roll and cooperating therewith to feed a relatively heavy body. of molten glass upwardly from said mass to the sheet forming pass, said forming rolls and feed roll being arranged to form a pocket for-receiving the body of molten glass fed upwardly.

-6. sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing, a massof molten glass, a pair of superimposed. sheet forming rolls disposed thereabove and arranged to create a sheet forming pass, a feed roll arranged horizontally with. respect to the lower forming, roll. and cooperating therewith, to "feed a relatively heavy body of molten glass upwardly to the sheet forming pass, said feed-roll being relatively larger than the adja cent -forming roll and the said forming rolls and feed roll arranged to create a pocket for receiving the body of molten glass fed upwardly, heating means for maintaining the glass within the pocket in a plastic workable condition, and conveyor means for receiving and carrying away the sheet after it has beenformed.

7. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle contai-ning .a mass of molten glass, a pair of sheet forming rolls disposed thereabove and arranged to create a sheet forming pass, and rotatable means coacting with. one of said forming rolls for; feeding molten glass upwardly from said mass to said sheet forming pass.

8. Inv sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, sheet rolling mechanism disposedthereabove and arranged to create a sheet. forming pass, and means arranged horizontally with respect to said rolling mechanism andcooperating therewith to feed a relatively heavy body of molten glass from said mass upwardly to the sheet forming pass.

9. In a sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten. glass, apair of superimposed sheet forming rolls disposed thereabove and arranged to create a sheet forming pass, and rotatable means arranged horizontally with respect to the lower forming roll and cooperating therewith to feed a relatively heavy body of: molten glass from said mass upwardly to the sheet forming pass.

JOSEPH A. REECE. 

